Shoe-bottom filler.



citizen of the United States, residing Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' AN REW THoMA, 0E CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO NOR H AMERICAN CHEMICAL COMPANY, or NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW THOMA, a at State of Massachusetts, have invented an Im rovement in Shoe-Bottom Fillers, of which the following description is a specification.

In my Patent No. 832,002 I have described a shoe-bottom filler which is adhesive. co-

. hesive, unchangeable, quick-setting, non-inflammable, elastic or non-shifting in the shoe, these being characteristics'desirable in such an article. I attain these results asset forth in said Letters Patent by treating resinous'vegetable gums with non-oxidizing oils and resins or by using resinous residuum of petroleum if of the proper consistency by itself, or in conjunction with resins and vegetable 1\Eums to toughen or soften the binder. y patent sets forth the making and using of a shoe filler which is capable of softening ata low heat and can behest applied while under the influence of lieahand if applied hot, it is necessary. as a practical matter to employ heated layingtools.

By quick-setting as used above. I mean the capacity to cool or set almost immediately after use. This is probably due to the fact that my filler passes from a state of viscid stickiness, almostfluidity. to a state of comparative rigidity within a limited range of temperature'and with the loss of but little heat since it has little capacity for retaining or holding heat. By low-mel.ting I mean the capacity to pass from a comparatively solid to a relatively fluid state at a low temperature and this temperature in my filler is low enough not to injure the leather-and also low enough not to cause the evaporation of the water with which the leather of the sole is usually soaked, i. e.,

I it should be below 212 F. If made to be fire .under conditions of ordinary use,. and

this is because I employ no volatile inflammable solvent.

My present object is to reduce the cost of the filler and lessen the labor attending its Specification of Letters Yatent.

Application filed July},- 1906. -Serial No. 324,368.

Patented Jan. 4, 1910.

I use, and accordingly I have improved my filler in that while it has the above desirable characteristics, it can readily be applied without a heated tool, roll or the like. In fact,- my invention provides a filler which it is practicable to apply cold as distinguished from being applied when hot or in the presence of heat as above. Hereinafter I have set forth that I prefer to employ heat in connection with the use of my present filler and I have set forth various details of use and advantages depending upon heat. but this is preferred merely, as my inven ion is also new in providing a filler containing comminuted filler material mixed with a gelatinous adhesive mass to a consistency rendering the tiller capable of being spread by hand in a cold state so as to form a tenacious, normally pliable layer, normally adherent to the leather of the shoe-'lmttom.

Another advantage of the species of the filler herein set forth is that it is capable, in its manufacture, of being accurately regulated as to its pliability. stickiness, quicksetting, quality, etc.,' so thatit may be made as a' slab'having a normally non-sticky exterior, for instance, or it may be quite rigid or extremely pliable, or have strong or weak cohesion, etc.

My present invention depends upon a gluey or gelatinous base admixed with resin ous and gummy adhesive substances in such manner and by such means that I am able to obtain in a great degree the good and practical qualities set forth in my patent aforesaid. This filler is very tractable.'so that I am able to mold it into thin slabs. thin loaves, or strips to he died out according to the needs of the shpe imumfacturer, thereby greatly facilitating its practical application.

As before, I prefer to apply my presentfiller through the agency of heat. Itis capable of being melted and applied in a semi-fluid condition the same as the previous filler, but while the previous filler could be applied cold only with ditllculty, because of its extremely sticky and cohesive composition, it is perfectly feasible with my improved filler to apply it cold, as its compost tion is capable of such nice regulation that the cohesiveness and stickiness can be 1nodi fied to any extent desired so that the mass.

, intended use, remaining so long beyond the until most, of the water solvent has been simply to soften and melt the glue, 1 and objectionable in the filler, provided the can be formed or molded as may be desired.

I prefer to prepare it in the form of strips, as stated, although it will be understood that it may be prepared in mass and applied by heat the same as explained in my aforesaid patent. \Vhen prepared in the form of a strip, the. strip may consist entirely of the binder or composition without any cork or other admixed filler material, but it is preferably mixed with ground cork or other fragmentary filler material. -Itxw1ll be understood, li'ewever, that, excepting as otherwise stated in the claims, I intend to cover my present -filler put. up'in any convenient commercial form.

- One of the leading characteristics or features of my present invention is the employment of a gluey or gelatinous base, which, on account of its bulkiness secures the lightness desirable for afiller and on account of its extreme pliability and resiliency provides a superior cushion for the foot, having a rubber-like character, but yet not having the drawing tendency of rubber. Rubber is heating to the-foot, whereas I have succeeded, by my present invention, in producing a filler which has the superior characteristics as to resiliency, etc., of the best rubber, or in other words is rubber-like in all its advantageous qualities, and yetis not heating to the foot and adapted in a superior degree to the purposes of a shoebottom filler. It is durable and permanent or practically unchangeable, i. e., for the purposes of a shoe filler,as it will be understood that I do not means by these terms here or in the claims that it 1s so forever, but it is so for all practical purposes of its life of a shoe.

To bring about the results aboveoutlined I saturate glue or other gelatinous substance with onlyenough water or other suitable solvent determinable by the nature of the gelatinous material to facilitate the melting thereof under heat (in a glue-pot, for example). When reduced to a thick fluid mass or thoroughly dissolved andsmoot-h flowing, I add for every pound of glue from one to twofpounds of a fluid constant under all usualconditions, such as glycerin, and these are thoroughly mixed together under the influence of gradually increasing heat evaporated- The. purposeof the water is having accomplished thisfpurposeit is desirable to eliminate it more or less, as it is filler is to be made water-proof. A small proportion of stearic acid or the like is added during theevaporating process to facilitate the subsequent melting and admixing of the further ingredient-s. Next I introduce vegetable or mineral resins the latterv including Because of such as commonly known as wax tailings and the harder, lighter colored, resinous residuum of petroleum to stiffen the mass, and

vegetable guttaercha, and vegetable gums point and provide stiffness, etc., or viscous oils which unite with the resin and vegetable gums to accomplish much the same result as the mineral pitch in producing a low. melting point, stickiness, and a strong adhesive quality to the mass. It is advisable to melt the gums separately before mixing with the gelatinous base.

The proportions of parts may be varied widely, according to the predominating character which it is desired to give to the filler, and according to the particular shape in which it is desired to offer it to the trade. For practical purposes I prefer to use about five parts of a solution consisting of four parts of the galatinous base (this term including the various glues), such as albumen glue, casein glue,starch glue, "egetable glue. marine glue, etc. three parts of glycerin and one art of stearic acid, and to this solution I a d approximately seven parts of semisolid resinous residuum of patroleum and two parts of rosin and mix the same while heated. Or if the above mentioned hard variety of residuum of petroleum is not availableor it is preferred to employ altogether the viscous oil's, I may use the latter with rosin and such vegetable gums' as pontianac, gutta-percha, tuna, or the like. The viscous oils are used to advantage with the above residuum of petroleum and rosin when. the com ound is stifl and hard, serving to soften the same and lower the melting point, and, in conjunction with the pitch, resins, and gums, also serving to render the compound sticky and adhesive and more plastic. Tuna for instance is quite resinous and hard, and may not only take the place of the mineral pitch, but also of the resin in stiffening as well as toughening the mass' the gelatinous base (which has been previously made into a nearly waterless solution, through the agency of glycerinor the fatty acids such as oleic, palmitie or stearic acids). v

the distinctively different properties and ingredients which I make use of in my improved filler, it-is perfectly practicable to ,regulatethe filler with extreme nicety,,simply by causing one property, to

hold in check the other, thereby controllingso desired, or either may be allowed to pre dominate. If the former predominates, the filler is more readily workable and sheeted, less adhesive and more resilient, whereas if I, the latter, 2'. e., the resinous or gummy property, predominates, the tiller is tougher and less responsive, but more sticky. For these reasons by present filler affords a wider scope and variety than my patented filler aforesaid. Itis not necessary to use ground cork or other supporting material, as the required stability or substance is in the binder itself alone. although I preferto admix more or less filler material, preferably of a fibrous nature, such as shredded cork. chopped jute or the like.

' 'lo render the broad character of my intention more apparent, I will explain the compound again from a slightly diti'erent standpoint. The glue or gelatinous matter is usually of animal origin and subservient to a water solvent, whereby its adhesive principle is readily and quickly developed. butleaving it slow-drying and not waterproof, while on the other hand the fatty acids eliminate the objectionable water without destroying the resiliency which the water has developed, but rather adding to the rubber-like nature of the'mass and at the same time giving permanency thereto. Also, being themselves waxy and smoothing,'they change the nature of the glue from its stifl' or strong stickiness to a workable resilient material, comparatively smooth to the touch, and quick settin At this stage of the procs cssthe containe water has been practically eliminated but the water-absorbent quality of the mass still remains, so that if the mass were immersed in water it would still expand and be variable in character instead of unchangeable- Therefore, to impart water-repellent andstable qualities and, if desired, to impart a stickiness which is not influenced by moisture, I add a. water repellent component, which may consist of yarious ingre ients, as resinous, pitchy and gummy substances or viscous oils holding in solution with theaid of heat the resin-- ous and gummy substances. A resinous substance, if of roper consistency and character, acts as a inder and'not only makes the mass Water-repellent, but possesses a lower melting point and makes the filler quicksetting and easy flowing, or moldable and n Y n workable, but if a resinous substance is used ponent predominates, it makes a compactmass, which, when sheeted and died out can be stuck in the shoe-bottom cavity by first touching it to a hot iron or by the application of paste, and on the other hand, when the binder (2'. e., the resinous or gummy comonent) predominates, it can more readily )e put into the shoe by heating the mass and applying the same with a wet tool (or with a hdo)t tool as set forth in my patent aforesal and preferred manner herein set forth. the filler is nnchangeable, has practically no shrinkage, is ermanently elastic, cohesive, adhesive, quiet-setting, water-repellent, and non -inflammable, besides being light in 'weight,-easily used, inexpensive as compared with naphtha-rubber cement filler, and it carefully made and properly used is odorless. Also, whether all or only a part of these characteristics are present in the filler as defined in certain of my broader claims, T believe myself to be the first to have invented a shoe-bottom filler having a gelatinous or pulpy, jelly-like consistency capable of being spread cold by hand and of maintaining the cork in a permanent sheet in the shoe, not stitl' nor brittle, .but pliable and sticking fast to the leather or other substance of the innersole, all as defined in certain of the claims. This is in distinction from filler composed of cork mixed with rubber cement, and filler composed of cork mixed with ordinary flour paste, both of which tuickly dry out and hence become stiff an more or less brittle and crisp, so that the cork is liable to crack or loosen and disintegrate more or less under the flexing action of the shoe in walking.

Having described my invention. what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. A shoe-bottom filler. consisting of a low-melting. quick-setting, resilient lllilh'i containing a 'water-absorbent component and a water-repellent component.

2. A shoe-bottom filler, consisting of a low-melting, quick-setting, resilient mas containing 'a water-absorbent component and a water-repellent component. in proportions to render the mass water-proof.

A shoe-bottom filler, consisting of a low melting, quick setting, resilient mass containing a water-absorbent con'ipon'ent. and a water-repellent adhesive component. in proportions to render the mass waterproof.

4. A shoe-bottom tiller, consisting of a' gelatinous body combined with a fatty acid to a tough rnbbel like consistency mixed with comminuted shoe-filler material and having permanent elasticity and resiliency. A shoe-bottom filler. consisting of a gelatinous body, combined with low melting, resinous ingredients.

6. A shoe-bottom filler, consisting of a \Vhen made inthe most complete &

gelatinous body, combined with low melt- 7. A shoe-bottom filler, consisting of aqueously soluble gelatinous material previously dissolved in Water but having its water solvent substantially eliminated, united with a resinous, adhesive material.

8. A shoe-bottom filler, consisting of soluble gelatinous material previously dissolved in a suitablesolvent, but having said solvent substantially replaced in effect by a constant fluid, united with a resinous adhesive material.

9. A shoe-bottonrfiller, consisting of solubl gelatinous material previously dissolved in a suitable solventbut having said solvent substantially replaced in efiect by a constant fluid, united With a resinous adhesive material and a'fatty acid;

10. A shoe-bottom filler, consisting of.

soluble gelatinous material previously dissolved in a suitable solvent but having said solvent substantially replaced in effect by glycerin, united With a resinous adhesive material and a fatty acid. 2

11. A shoe-bottom filler, consisting of soluble gelatinous material previously dissolved in a suitable solvent but having said solvent substantially replaced in effect by glycerin, united with a resinous adhesive;

material.

12. A shoe-bottom filler, consisting of an aqueously soluble gelatinous material pre viously dissolved in Water but having its Water solvent substantially replaced in effect by glycerin, united with a resinous, l(l-' hesive material.

13. A shoe-bottom filler, consisting of an aqueously soluble gelatinous material previously dissolved in water but having its- Water solvent substantially replaced in efi'ect by a constant fluid, united with a resinous adhesive material.

14. A shoe-bottom filler, consisting of an mass having a gelatinous base, adapted to.

be held in a shoe cavity for filling the shoe bottom.

16. A shoe-bottom filler, consisting of an unchangeable, setting, tenacious mass having a gelatinous base, adapted to be held in a shoe cavity for filling the shoe bottom.

17.- A shoe-bottom filler, consisting of a permanently elastic, quick-setting, sticky mass, containing a gelatmous base.

18. A shoe-bottom filler, consisting of a permanently elastic. quickquick-setting, sticky mass containing a gelatin and a fatt acid reduced to a tough, permanently plia le consistency.

19. A shoe-bottom filler, consisting of a permanently elastic, quick-setting, sticky cohesive gelatinous base.

Water-repellent, tough, permanently elastic,

quick setting mass, adhesive to leather, and

containing a elatinous base.

21. A shoe bottom filler, comprising .a

-water-repellent, unchangeable, tough, per

manent'ly elastic, quick setting mass, adhe give to leather, and containing a gelatinous ase. i

22. A shoe-bottom filler, comprising a permanently tenacious, non-inflammable, quick-setting, permanently resilient mass, containing a gelatinous base.

23. A shoe-bottom filler, obtained by uniting witha solution of gelatinous'matter and a fatty acid, stiffening means and means to give stickiness and a low melting point.

24. A. shoe-bottom filler, having a permanently tough consistency obtained by uniting with a solution of gelatinous matter and a fatty acid, stifi'ening material and means to give stickiness and a low melting point. 25. A shoe-bottom .filler, having a permanently tough consistency obtained by uniting with a solution of gelatinous matter and a fatty acid, stifl'ening material, means independent of the gelatinous base 'for increas: ing the toughness of the compound, and meansto give stickiness and a low melting point.

26. A shoe-bottom filler,'consisting of a quick-setting, permanently pliable and workable composition containing a gelatinous base and resin. Y

27. A'shoe-bottom filler, consisting of a quick-setting, permanently pliable and workable composition containing a gelatithe like.

quick setting, permanently nous base and a viscous oil containing in solution resinous matter.

29. A shoe-bottom filler, consisting of a quick-setting, permanently pliable nous base, resin to stiffen the mass and a vegtoughenthe mass. I

30. A shoe-bottonrfiller, consisting of a {quick-setting, permanently pliableand j workable composition including a gelatinous base, resin to stiffen the mass, a vegetable gum ot the nature of gutta-percha to toughen mass, containing an unchangeable,adhesive,

20. A shoe-bottom filler, comprising a' nous base and vegetable gutta-percha gum or] 110 28. 'A shoe-bottom filler, consistingof' a pliable and workable composition containlng a gelatiand workable composition containing a gelatietable gui'nof the nature of gutta-perchato r I 1 the mass, resinous residuum of petroleum l and a viscous oil, operating in conjunction 3 30 1 base in so ution with a fatty acid, and resingum of the nature of gutta-percha, and resable compositionincluding a elatinous base in solution with a fatty aci a vegetable inous residuum of petroleum.

33. A shoe-bottom filler, consistin of a quick-setting,permanently pliable an workable composition including a gelatinous base in solution ,with a fatty acid, a vegetable gum of the nature of gutta-percha, resinous residuum of petroleum, and a viscous oil.

34. A shoe-bottom filler, consistin quick-setting, permanently. pliable an workable compositlon containing a gelatinous base in solution with a fatt acid, a vegetable gum of the nature 0 gutta-percha,

and a vlscousioil holding in solution a resinous substance.

35. A' shoe-bottom filler, consistin ofa quick-setting, permanently pliable an workable com osltlon' containing a gelatinous ous residuum of petroleunn I at;

A shoe-bottomfiller, consisting of a qulck-setting, permanently pliable and workable com osition containing a gelatinous base in so ution with a fatty acid, resinous residuum of petroleum, and a viscous oil.

37. shoe-bottom'filler, consistin of a quick-setting, permanently pliable an workable com osition" containing. a gelatinous base in so ution witha fatty acid and a'viscou's'oil holding in solution a-resinous substance. 1 1

38. A shoe-bottom filler, consisting of a low-melting; quiclrsetting, resilient mass containing a water-absorbent component and a water-repellent component, mixed with finely commlnuted filler material.

'39. A shoe-bottom filler, consisting of .a normally unchangeable, permanently elastic, quick-setting mass, com osed of finely comminuted filler material aving each'granule entirely coated with a permanently sticky composition containin a1 gelatinous base.

40. Ashoe-bott om ller, consisting of a permanently elastic, quick-setting,tenacious mass having a gelatinous base, mixed with finely comminuted fibrous material, adapted to be held in a shoe cavity for filling the shoe bottom. 1

41. A shoebottom filler, consisting of an unchangeable, permanently elastic, quicksetting, tenacious mass havin a gelatinous base, mixed with finely commmuted fibrous whose of a.

material, adapted to be held in a shoe cavity for filling the shoe bottom.

42. A shoe-bottom filler, consisting of a filler bod in a fragment condition, held t ether y a com osition aving a base of g tinous materi in a permanently tenacious, uick-settin permanently elastic and moldab e mass, 0 a non-shifting tendency when cold.

43. A shoe-bottom filler, consisting ofa pemanently plastic, quick-setting, waterproof mass, adherent to leather and composed of finely comminuted filler material ranules are coated with a tenacious, tough binder having abase of gelatinous material, rendered temporarily highly fluid by moderate heat.

44. A shoe-bottom filler, consisting of filler material in afragmentary condition, and a compound which is permanently elastic; quick-setting and permanently sticky,

having a gelatinous base, said fragmentary filler material and compound being'thor- 'oughly mixed together-in the presence of heat. v

" 45. A shoe-bottom filler, consisting of a permanently plastic, quick-setting, non-inammable mass, adherent to leather and composed 'of finely comminuted filler material whose granules are coated with a tenacious,

toughcompound, having a base of gelatinous matter, capable of being rendered temporarily highly fluid b moderate heat.

46. A shoe-bottom' ller, consisting ofa permanently plastic, quick-setting, waterproof, and'non-infiamm'able, mass, adherent to' leatherv and 'composed of finely comminuted filler materiahwhose granules are coated with a tenacious, tough compound having a gelatinous base, ca able of being rendered highly fluid by mo erate heat.

47. Ashoe-bottom filler, consisting of comminuted filler material and a permanently pliable, non -inflammable, gummy compound, having a gelatinous base, thoroughly mixed together into a homogeneous, normally unchangeable, tenacious mass, semisolid when cold and freely plastic when hot, and having a low melting point.

48. A shoe bottom filler, containing comminuted filler materialmixed with a gelati nous adhesive mass to a consistency rendering' the filler capable of being spread by hand in a cold state forming a tenacious, normally pliable layer, normally adherent to the leather of the shoe-bottom.

49. A-shoe-bottom filler, in the form of a thin strip of tough, permanently elastic material, highly pliable, having a low melting point, and quick-setting.

50. A shoe-bottom fil er, in the form of a thin strip of tough, permanetly elastic material, hi hly pliable, having a low melting point, an quick-setting,'said strip becoming a 945,2e4 q intensely sticky upon superficial contact i In testimony whereof, I have signed my with a; hotsurface. 1 v name to this specification, in the presence 01 10 shoe-bottom filelfi in the form of 3 I two subscribing Witnesses.

thin 'stri com osed 0 nel comminute T I 5 filler ifnat brial a nd a binder n iixed together 'D THOMA' into a permanently elastic body, unchange- ,1 Witnesses:

able in character when cold, and rendered GEO. H. MAXWELL. v

highly'sticky by heat. M. J. SPALDING. 

